The Summer Reading Program kicked off at the library Wednesday with more than 50 youths in attendance. Children’s librarian Holly Davis introduced students to this summer’s theme: “One World, Many Stories.” Offerings will include basic language instruction in Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French, Polish and Swedish, among others. There are programs for children of all ages. Check the library for schedules.
John Hagen and Margaret Friedenauer have returned to Haines for the summer. John will fish with his father, John G. Hagen, and Margaret will be writing and editing for the Chilkat Valley News. John recently graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, N.M. with a bachelor’s degree in New Media Arts. His final project was a life-size photographic display of totems his father has carved. The photos were displayed at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe. Margaret and John met in Fairbanks, where she was a military reporter and he was a photographer for the Fairbanks Daily News Miner. They married in 2007.
Father Jim Blaney packed his skiff with fishing gear and loaded it on a ferry headed south to Sitka where he will minister to the congregation of St. Gregory’s Parish. Father Blaney was the pastor of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Haines for the past two and a half years and previously served Haines for four years. Blaney will be remembered for his “friendly, outgoing attitude,” says parishioner Dick Flegel. He is also a dedicated biker, and rode an average of 20 miles daily on the Haines Highway. He was ordained in 1965 with his twin brother at their childhood parish in South Boston. Father Blaney traveled in Alaska as a young man and moved to Prince of Wales in 1988, where he served for 11 years. Father Perry Kenaston will serve Haines and Skagway. He arrived Monday, just hours before his predecessor’s departure. Father Kenaston most recently served on Prince of Wales for seven years.
Patti Day is in Haines for two weeks to visit her mother, Marge Matthews. Patti lives in Boise, Idaho, where she is a pre-op nurse. Marge is happy to spend time talking and catching up with her daughter, who graduated Haines High School in 1975.
Marge Ward’s home was bustling with family visitors last week. Her grandson, Travis Hogins, along with two of his friends, spent a night with Marge on their way home to Juneau. Travis recently graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a degree in Civil Engineering. His parents, Marge’s daughter Wendy Hogins and son-in-law Gary Hogins, arrived in Haines Tuesday on their way home from the graduation ceremony and spent two days with Marge before continuing down to Juneau.
Lieutenants Mark and Lisa Davey, pastors at the Haines Salvation Army, will be moving north to a parish in the Palmer-Wasilla area. Mark and Lisa have worked in Haines three years, and started a family here, including Mark Daniel, 2,and Aurora, 12 months. Mark is happy with the work they have done to get the church’s thrift shop organized since their arrival. He said he is thankful that they have had the opportunity to reach out to people in need in the Chilkat Valley. They leave town June 27. Their replacements will be announced mid-June.
Many moose calves have been born in recent weeks and Alexandra Feit wants to make sure hikers stay alert for agitated cows. She was hiking with her dog Skeeter along Seduction Point trail Monday when a cow moose charged her and chased her around a small spruce tree “like ring around the rosy.” The moose alternated between charging Alexandra and her dog. Alexandra was able to protect herself in a small clump of trees before Skeeter chased the moose down the beach. “I was sure that I was going to have broken bones,” says Alexandra, who immediately turned back to the parking lot and alerted other hikers about the cow and calf.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters hosted a canoe outing in Paradise Cove Saturday. The calm day lent itself to a perfect afternoon. Tara Bicknell, Patty Brown, Alexandra Feit and Mark “Diz” Kistler were among the “bigs” who paddled with their “littles” and enjoyed a salmon and hot dog cookout on the beach prepared by BBBS director Burl Sheldon.
Reporter Krista Kielsmeier has been taking time to tour Haines and Skagway with her family during their visit from Iowa. Her brother Jack lives in Des Moines and parents Jerry and Linda Kielsmeier are from Johnston. They hiked Battery Point, where they caught a show of humpback whales, took a day trip to Haines Junction and rode the White Pass railroad in Skagway. Linda decided she can do without the crowds of Skagway and was happy to return to Haines for the Elks Lodge hamburger feed. Linda will stay in Haines through July, where she plans to work on acrylic and pastel landscapes.
Haines Senior Village resident Joan Snyder noted that Max Rybinski was also among the volunteers who worked to spruce up the landscaping around the apartments.
Randy Sloper was sitting above the left field wall at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles recently when he shagged a home run hit during batting practice while he was watching his hometown Milwaukee Brewers play the Dodgers. He put the ball to use a couple days later in a San Diego waffle house when he recognized Brewers slugger Prince Fielder at a nearby table. Fielder graciously signed the ball for him. Sloper was in San Diego for daughter Shelly Sloper’s graduation from Claremont College. Shelly earned a master’s degree in psychology.